Getting your grill clean keeps your food safer and makes it taste better. And with all the baked-on gunk that gets on every type of grill, cleaning the grate is a tough job. As you head into summer, we've got you! No matter what kind of grill you have, we have all the tricks to get it clean.
Use Steam to Clean a Porcelain Grill
Return those porcelain grates to a dazzling state of clean using a little steam. Steam is remarkably effective at cleaning all sorts of stuff, and your porcelain grate is no different.
- Fill a metal tin with water.
- Allow it to boil on the grill and shut the lid for about 15 or so minutes.
- Remove the tin using an oven mitt.
- Run a grill brush over the grates.
- Allow the grill to cool to warm.
- Wipe everything down with a microfiber cloth.
Related: Mastering Cast-Iron Grill Cleaning
Onion & Lemon Make Any Grill Gleam Naturally
Keep your grill cleaning non-toxic by using an onion. This works on any type of grill grates.
- Cut an onion in half.
- Heat up the grill to burn off most food particles.
- Put the onion on a grill fork.
- Rub it all over the grates.
- Squeeze a lemon over any extra gunk.
- Cool the grill and wipe it down.
Create a Coffee Soak for Stainless Steel Grates
Here's another natural cleaner that'll get stainless grates gleaming.
- Pull off the grill grates.
- Put them in a large container filled with coffee.
- Allow them to soak for a few hours.
- Rinse and wipe down with a cloth.
Use a Baking Soda and Vinegar Paste
Baking soda and vinegar are a power duo that will clean all sorts of things, from your toilet to your grill.
- Mix 2 cups of baking soda, ⅓ cup of Dawn dish soap, and ⅓ cup of white vinegar in a container.
- Remove the grates and spread the mixture all over them.
- Paint the paste onto all areas of the grill where there's extra gunk.
- Replace the grates.
- Close the lid and let it sit overnight.
- Grab a moist sponge and wipe away the grime from the entire grill.
- Use a bristled brush for hard-to-remove areas.
Aluminum Foil Always Works
Don't have a grill brush? Don't worry about it — you probably have a brush substitute in your kitchen right now. Grab a little bit of aluminum foil and give 'er a scrub.
- While the grates are still hot from grilling, crumple a ball of aluminum foil.
- Grab it with your tongs.
- Run it over the hot grates.
Deep Clean With an ACV Spritz
Another easy and natural way to clean all types of grill grates is to give it an apple cider vinegar spritz. The acid in the vinegar removes most debris.
- Mix apple cider vinegar or cleaning vinegar and water equally in a spray bottle.
- Spritz the grates.
- Close the lid and allow it to stew for 20 or so minutes.
- Use a grill brush or aluminum foil to remove gunk.
- Rinse with water.
- If you don't have ACV or cleaning vinegar, white vinegar will work in a pinch.
Baking Soda Is Great for Charcoal Grills
When you need to give your charcoal BBQ grate a deep cleaning, baking soda can be your best friend.
- On a cooled grill, remove the ash.
- Create a paste with a cup of baking soda, a bit of water, and a few drops of Dawn.
- Dip a ball of aluminum foil in the paste and scrub the grates.
- Pull off the grates and use a bit of Dawn and water to wipe out the inside.
- Rinse and wipe down.
- Add a bit of oil to the clean grates.
Get Your Gas Grill Super Clean
When it comes to cleaning a gas grill, you don't want to get anything on the burners. So, you need to stick to heat and elbow grease.
- Fire up the grill and burn off all the crud on the grates you can.
- Turn off the gas.
- Dip your grill brush in a bit of soapy water and scrub.
- Once cooled, pull off the parts and wipe everything down with soapy water.
- Wipe out the inside of the grill with soapy water and a scrub pad.
- Wipe out the lid and outside.
- Oil the grates.
Use Soapy Water for a Pellet Grill
Pellet grills don't get as hot as a gas grill, so you just need to remove the crud from the grates and grease pan after cooking.
- Soak the grates in soapy water for at least 20 minutes.
- Scrub them with a scouring pad.
- Scrub the grease pan with the soapy scouring pad while it's still a bit warm.
So Many Ways to Get Your Grill Clean
No matter what type of grill you have, there is an easy way to clean it. And since most of the solutions are natural, there's no need to rely on heavy chemicals. So get ready for the best BBQ season of your life, because cleaning your grill just got a whole lot easier.
